THE Somerset Rebels will be hoping for better luck with the weather this evening (Friday) when they welcome Belle Vue Aces to the Oaktree Arena, writes Ian Belcher

With last Friday’s encounter against Wolverhampton suffering an early postponement due to the adverse weather forecast, the Rebels will be itching to get back to racing on their home shale, with their last home meeting being way back on June 23 and their 31-point win over Leicester.

Belle Vue, probably the most famous club in the speedway world, are riding high in the SGB Premiership league table, but that has counted for nothing as far as Somerset are concerned, as the Rebels have already defeated the Mancunian club twice this season, a stunning 46-44 win at the home of the Aces followed up with a 10-point win at the Oaktree Arena at the beginning of June.

Since those matches, Belle Vue have made a change to their septet, with Rohan Tungate, who started out the season with Somerset, being brought into the Aces team at the expense of fellow Australian Justin Sedgmen.

Top of the Belle Vue riding order is Dane Kenneth Bjerre, while among their number the Aces track the 2017 British champion (and Oaktree Arena track record holder) Craig Cook, together with the current Under-21 world champion Max Fricke.

But with Bjerre unavailable for Friday’s meeting, as he is competing in the Danish Championship, Belle Vue have brought in Troy Batchelor as a guest replacement.

Somerset are expected to be at full strength for Friday’s match, and in addition to continuing their unbeaten run against the Aces, the Rebels will be looking to build on last Wednesday’s superb win at Poole, to put further daylight between themselves and bottom club Leicester in the league table.

Somerset team manager Garry May said: “The boys showed just what they are capable of with that win at Poole.

“We need to capitalise on that when we face Belle Vue at the Oaktree Arena on Friday night.

“In saying that, however, Aces boss Mark Lemon will be very keen for his side to get some degree of revenge for the two defeats we have handed out to his side already this season.

“So, all in all, it should be another cracking match for the fans to enjoy!”